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Heartworm Disease… A real issue in the Phoenix area
Canine heartworm disease is a serious parasitic disease caused by a long, thin worm that lives in the blood vessels and heart of infected dogs. The disease is spread from dog to dog by mosquitoes. The mosquito bites a dog with heartworm infection, collects some of the microscopic heartworm offspring and then, after a couple of weeks, passes these on to another dog.
Inside the dog, the microscopic heartworm can grow into a parasite exceeding a foot in length. The life cycle is somewhat complicated. The important thing is to prevent worm development using safe and effective preventative drugs.
Heartworms are present in most parts of the United States and in many parts of North America. Mosquitoes are the key - without them the disease cannot spread. With the local population growth in Phoenix, and a notable increase of golf course lakes, fountains, ponds, and other water features, there has been a steady increase in the number of mosquitoes. This has heightened the probability of transmission of disease through mosquitoes, including Heartworm. In 2001, there were over 425 confirmed cases of Heartworm in Maricopa County alone. Heartworm disease injures the lungs, the arteries of the lungs and the heart. Symptoms include tiring, coughing, weight loss and heart failure. Heartworm infection in dogs is usually diagnosed by a blood test.
PREVENTION
Prevention of heartworm disease is simple. In most cases, a once-monthly prescription tablet is all that is needed to effectively protect your pet.
These preventatives are available at Hillside Animal Hospital, and our doctors will first make certain that your dog is not heartworm positive. These "preventatives" kill microscopic larvae that are left behind by mosquitoes when they bite a dog. Before beginning heartworm prevention, any dog over 6 months of age should first have a heartworm test. Repeated heartworm blood testing every other year is recommended even for dogs taking heartworm preventative.
RECOMMENDATIONS
We recommend that dogs living in the Phoenix metro area take heartworm preventative. If your dog is unprotected, please call us at 480-391-7297 to schedule an appointment so that we can provide the treatment to keep your dog protected and to give you peace of mind.
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FAX: 480-551-1738